Citation

Tilden VP, Lee MA. J. Fam. Nurs. 1997; 3(2): 120-129.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/107484079700300202

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An individual autonomy framework, rather than a family framework, has prevailed in the national debate about physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill. However, the separation of individual and family is artificial in the context of life-threatening illness. This article describes family issues when terminally ill patients consider physician-assisted suicide. Issues include family roles, motives, disagreements, and grief; the problems of misuse of a lethal prescriptive; and failed suicide attempts. For multiple reasons described, the family perspective is needed in debates about physician-assisted suicide. © 1997 Sage Publications, Inc.

Language: en